The acceptability of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) in Europe: An assessment of the key determining factors. Part 2. The social acceptability of CCS and the wider impacts and repercussions of its implementation

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Simon Shackley
  • David Reiner
  • Paul Upham
  • Heleen de Coninck
  • Gudmundur Sigurthorsson
  • Jason Anderson

In Part 1, we presented the findings of the EU ACCSEPT project (2006-2007) with regards to scientific, technical, legal and economic issues. In Part 2, we present the analysis of social acceptability on the part of both the lay public and stakeholders. We examine the acceptability of CO2 capture and geological storage (CCS) within the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. The debate over the inclusion of CCS within the CDM is caught-up in a set of complex debates that are partly technical and partly political and, therefore, difficult, and time-consuming, to resolve. We explore concerns that support for CCS will detract from support for other low-carbon energy sources. We can find no evidence that support for CCS is currently detracting from support for renewable energy sources, though it is probably too early to detect such an effect. Efforts at understanding, engaging with, and communicating to, the lay public and wider stakeholder community (not just business) in Europe are currently weak and inadequate, despite well-meaning statements from governments and industry.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Volume3
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)344-356
Number of pages13
ISSN1750-5836
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 05.2009
Externally publishedYes